Update May 27th 2018
Today is the 50th day from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath. Today is the morrow of the seven Sabbath, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, the Day of Firstfruits.
“It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28
Today we are seeing this prophecy come to fruition in great numbers in the Middle East especially, but all around the world. Many in the Muslim faith are having dreams and coming to know that Jehovah is the One true God, and that Jesus is the Messiah! We are truly living in exciting times.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And the one hearing, let him say, Come! And the one thirsting, let him come; and the one desiring, let him take of the water of life freely. The One testifying these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:17, 20
Original Post May 27th 2012
6 Sivan 1313 BC ~ 6 Sivan 31 AD
Just as the Israelites received the teachings of God at Mount Sinai fifty days after He delivered them from the slavery of Egypt…the gift of the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the upper room fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection delivered us from sin. And just as the nation of Israel was not complete until they had the laws and instructions written in stone to guide them down the right path–followers of Jesus are not complete until God’s laws and instructions are written on our hearts.
So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled…Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. Exo 19:16,18
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
Because it is the end of the Festival of Weeks—Pentecost. The devout Jews, living in foreign lands, came in large numbers to attend Pentecost, as God had instructed. When the disciples in the upper room receive the Holy Spirit they immediately started sharing the Gospel in many different languages. Most of the onlookers were amazed, but some started mocking them saying they were drunk. BUT…
Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Acts 2
Peter reminded them what the prophet Joel said would happen on Pentecost. God said, “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
Does the gift of the Holy Spirit mean the same to us today as it did in 31 AD? I believe it does—God is the same yesterday and today and forever. That power that filled the hundred and twenty in the upper room, giving them utterance, so that three thousand were saved in that day, is the same power given to us today. So that we can take a stand with confidence, like Peter, even when we are being mocked.
Pentecost by Jean II Restout
I like how you said that in the orginal post “And just as the nation of Israel was not complete until they had the laws and instructions written in stone to guide them down the right path–followers of Jesus are not complete until God’s laws and instructions are written on our hearts.”
I think we can draw another parellel, just as God asked the Hebrews to make a covenant with Him to obey His commandments, I believe when we come to Him today, we are given a choice, we are asked to realize that we are sinners and that we need Him to forgive us and we make a covenant with Him to repent and turn away from our old way and follow His commandments, His Way.
Just as you say, “God is the same yesterday and today and forever”
Day 50! ~ Pentecost 2013
I am embarrassed to say that this day came up on me so fast that I didn’t realize it until just a few minutes ago. The last few weeks have been emotionally and physically challenging. I’m praying that the Father would impress upon me the importance of “remembering” and how easy it is to let the “…the worries of the world […] choke out the word, and let it become unfruitful. ~ Matthew 13:22
As I write this I realize that if I had been “counting” everyday, my emotions and worries would not have been so heavy. I carried a load that Jesus was right there ready to carry for me. :\
I hope your day is “filled” with the gift of the Holy Spirit!